I don't think they'll be awful to watch. They probably won't win a ton, but I had much more fun last season once injuries forced Hynes to let all the young guys play. Trotz is just cranking that up to 11 apparently.
I don’t think we’re gonna be awful. We have a top 5 goalie and a guy in Josi that can create offense from the back end every shift. I don’t see us being bottom 10 bad. We still scream “mushy middle” to me.
The kids were playing above their heads in a no-pressure situation (even with a playoff spot in play). This season they won't be filling in, that will be their roster spot for 82 games, it will be them the other team is scouting and gameplanning against. Expecting them to carry the same level of play for a season they did over a ~15 game stretch is very optimistic.
We probably have the worst center depth in the league on paper. We have 1 legit top 6 forward, two legitimate top 4 d-men (probably 3 between Carrier/Fabbro), and Saros (assuming he's not traded). Maybe we'll be better than the sum of our on-paper parts, but I'm doubtful.
Novak played over 50 games, Tomasino has played over 100 the past 2 seasons. No one put up insane numbers, except maybe Novak (though he looked 100% legit to me, if up-and-down). Not like anyone really played way over expectations, they won mostly because of Saros, same reason they'll win more than expected next year.
I was speaking collectively of the young group, particularly after the deadline and when injuries ramped up. I'm aware individual players had more games played than that.
So we'll be changing captains this off-season as well I hope?
Hot take but why not shop Josi? no movement clause yes but he is one concussion away from his career being over. Duchene was a productive winger for us. He’s going to be one of the most sought after free agents now honestly. What does that say about the move?
GM's talk. IF there is any merit to the rumors we hear then nobody wants that guy on the team for that long even at max retention.
I mean, aside from helping with the youth movement, and getting to the cap floor, I don't really see a reason to hold onto Josi, Forsberg, or Saros.
Who says they wanted to use up their last retention slot, especially for a 7th? An extra 1.5 million in cap for 3 years isn't really a huge deal, especially with the cap expected to jump.
I agree. I mean reading some media guys and what not on social media.. Duchene will be a top 3 free agent. How do you explain that? Yet we were shopping Askarov instead of Saros at the draft. The whole picture is puzzling.
I think they wanted to keep that one retention spot open.
It was asking everyone in the league does anybody want Johansen for 4 million dollars for the next 2 years vs Duchene at 4 million for the next 3 years. I assume Johansen playing center made him that much more valuable, and add in any potential knowledge of personality and team chemistry and I think its reasonable Duchene had no market at full retention.
I thought Dvorak was under contract (and Montreal has been trying to dump him). Or is there another one I'm missing?
